Yes, type 1 is an auto-immune disorder, much like Grave's disease (thyroid), rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, among many many others. They do not know what suddenly causes the body to turn on itself like it does in these cases, but for some reason the body fails to recognize "self" as they say in the studies I have read. I have done quite a bit of research of scholarly articles and research to educate myself, and I am still perplexed, but I will share what I have found.
As background, our bodies are constantly producing antibodies and our immune systems are constantly at work, we are an amazing creation. Our bodies are complex machines with a genetic blueprint. But genes are turned off and turned on...so genetic make-up is only part of the story, why some genes are turned off and turned on is what is more fascinating than genes themselves. So while identifying genes associated with specific diseases (as has been done recently for many many chronic diseases) is amazing, understanding why they turn on and turn off is a whole new facet to the story.
With this in mind, when an identicle twin is diagnosed with Type 1, only 50% of the time is the other twin diagnosed. So this points to not only a strong genetic component, but a strong environmental component. Research has been done to focus on factors such as in utero environment, diet, race/ethnicity, geographical location, vitamin deficiencies, growth trajectories, etc. etc. etc. But what is of concern, is that globally type 1 is on the rise, which if it is genetic, how can that be? There has been a study performed globally by the WHO (World Health Organization) by the DiaMond Research Group, documenting the increasing (incidence=new cases) type 1 cases per country. There is also a US based research going on documenting this increase also (called SEARCH for diabetes in youth), which was prompted by the WHO findings. So identifying the environmental factors at work here is very important to our future. The strongest correlations from what I have found is a seasonal component (for some reason this seasonal trend is stronger in boys than girls), vitamin D deficiency, latitude, ethnicity, growth curves, and age at time of diagnoses is getting younger. Vitamin D is important to immune function, but it is important in both turning on the immune system and dampening its effect. The closer you are the equator the lower incidence of type 1, and there are fewer cases diagnosed in summer. These same trends are not seen in the southern hemisphere however, and in general the southern hemisphere has far fewer new cases than the northern hemisphere. There is an increased incidence in people of European descent. Cow's milk is also an area being studied, however from what I have seen there has been very conflicting evidence both ways on this. I have read studies where the immune system response is studied in the lab, and there are specific antibodies that have been identified as having lost the ability to recognize self, and they have been able to be corrected, to restore this ability. So there is hope that some day this "pre-diadiabetic" phase of type 1 may be able to be stopped, before the islet cells are completely destroyed, but we are not even close yet, although some clinical trials are being done. I think the most promising is vitamin D supplementation in children who are deficient, but currently serum vitamin D in children is not tested during well visits, but I think should be considered.
If you want to learn more about these findings, good resources are the CDC website (center for disease control), JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund) and this site here, the diabetes.org. YOu can also find quite a few scholarly articles on Google Scholar, although some of it is tough reading. I have a biology degree, but that molecular genetic and immunology research is a tough read for me too. But you can probably find lots on the vitamin D, latitude, seasonality, etc. My daughter was diagnosed at 11 years old, and defied all the trends I have mentioned, but disease onset was after she had the H1N1 flu virus that year, a flu that took her about three weeks to overcome, so the seasonal component is thought to either be linked to sun exposure or flu and virus seasonal occurrence. When she started becoming symptomatic I thought it was just a slow recovery from the flu, and her weight wasn't rebounding, by the time I took her to the doctor she was in ketoacidosis and they sent us straight to the hospital. But no permanent damage, thank God, she recovered nicely. It was a steep learning curve, while I understand the disease process.. learning to manage this and give the shots was all new to us. So we are three years in and still doing novolog pens and lantus at night. She doesn't want to try the pump yet.
I have gotten active in raising awareness and funding for research for type 1, as there is much much to learn. There are diabetes runs and walks an bike rides you can participate in, you and your family, that both raise awareness and money for research. If you go to the JDRF and this website you can find out more ways you can contribute. When I say my daughter defied the trends I described in my research she is petite and always has been very small for her age (still is), athletic, played outside so much I worried about sun exposure and had to use sunscreen, was diagnosed in fall, born in Florida and now living in midwest, very active with a very healthy and varied diet. My brother was diagnosed with Type 1 in his 30s and I had a great grandfather who had it, but that is the only family history. But we are of european descent living in an affluent country (another trend, affluence). But there are populations where diabetes is almost absent, those being Ameri-indians and Asians. To say the least, its complicated.
Well, I hope I didn't overwhelm you, but I thought I'd share for what its worth. You seemed so motivated to learn, which is so great! I hope I helped shed some light. This is an AWESOME place to get ideas and blow off steam when you are having a tough time coping... keep up the good work!
